Soarin’ Through the Years: How Disney’s Iconic Ride Has Evolved!
For over two decades, Soarin’ has given Disney guests the feeling of flying in a whole new way.
Since opening at Disney California Adventure in 2001, the attraction has evolved from a celebration of California to a journey around the world and now to a new adventure across the United States.
(Disneyland Resort)
Soarin’ Across America has officially opened at Disneyland, introducing the next chapter in the attraction’s history while still honoring its roots.
The Original Favorite: Soarin’ Over California
Disney
When Disney California Adventure opened in 2001, Soarin’ Over California quickly became one of the park’s most popular attractions.
Guests boarded a hang-glider-style flight simulator and soared over some of California’s most recognizable landmarks!
Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
The landmarks included the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, Malibu, Monterey, Palm Desert, Los Angeles, and Disneyland.
Guests loved the immersive scents, picturesque landscapes, and memorable musical score by Jerry Goldsmith.
Behind the scenes, Imagineer Mark Sumner helped develop the innovative “lift-and-glide” ride system after building an early working model using an old Erector set.
Disney
That design became the foundation of the attraction guests still enjoy today.
Fun Facts from the California Version
- Archaeologists inspected and hand-cleared nearly four miles of trail before filming the Anza-Borrego desert sequence.
- The Thunderbirds flight featured Lt. Col. Brian “Be-Bop” Bishop during his final flight as the squadron’s commander.
Going Global: Soarin’ Around the World
Disney
In 2016, Disney expanded the attraction with Soarin’ Around the World.
Instead of focusing just on California, guests flew over famous landmarks across the globe, including:
- Great Wall of China
- Taj Mahal
- Eiffel Tower
- Great Pyramids of Egypt
- Matterhorn
- Sydney Harbour
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- Fiji
- Greenland
- Iguazu Falls
- Monument Valley
- Disneyland Resort
Disney
The updated experience introduced new scents, refreshed visuals, and an updated musical score by Bruce Broughton.
Fun Fact
During filming at the Matterhorn, production paused for nearly two hours after camera equipment froze in the extreme cold.
A New Journey: Soarin’ Across America
Disney
Now, Disney is bringing guests on a new adventure with Soarin’ Across America.
The updated attraction was created in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and highlights the country’s diverse landscapes, landmarks, and skylines.
Disney
Feel the wind as you soar over locations including New York Harbor, the Grand Canyon, New England’s coastline, expansive western plains, northern wilderness regions, tropical islands, and scenic bayous.
The Queue
Disney
The attraction’s aviation-themed queue remains part of the experience and includes the Wings of Fame and Legends of Flight exhibits!
The pieces honor pioneering aviators such as Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager, William J. Powell, Allan Lockheed, Howard Hughes, and more from aviation history.
Photo: Disney
Fun Fact
- The production team traveled over 28,000 miles while creating the film.
- Nearly 900 helicopter passes and more than 60 drone flights were used to capture footage.
The Legacy of Soarin’
Whether flying above California, circling the globe, or exploring America, the heart of Soarin’ remains the same.
The attraction continues to deliver the same sense of wonder, adventure, and freedom that made it a Disney favorite when it first opened!
Soarin’ Across America
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Article Source/ Feature Photo: Disney
